As colder weather starts to slowly return this season in Arkansas, you'll hear terms like frost and freeze more often. This is especially true for the first few cold snaps of the season. Each of those terms means something different.

A frost means surface temperatures are freezing, or 32 degrees Fahrenheit and below, and air temperatures may be above freezing in the 30s. Frost then forms in a similar process to dew, when water vapor in the air turns into ice crystals on contact with these freezing surfaces. For frost to form, winds generally need to be calm or light.

A freeze occurs when air temperatures fall to or below freezing. Gusty winds may prevent the formation of frost during a freeze, meaning a freeze is likely advective. An advective freeze is usually a blast of cold, dry air from the north accompanied by blustery winds. A radiative freeze means winds are usually calm and there's a layer of warm air sitting above the freezing layer in the atmosphere (this is called an inversion).

Whether a freeze is a hard freeze or a soft freeze (also sometimes referred to as a light freeze) depends on temperature and time. A soft freeze means air temperatures are at or below freezing. A hard freeze means air temperatures are at or below 28 degrees Fahrenheit for a longer period of time. A hard freeze can occur in as little as an hour at 28 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

During a soft freeze, indoor plumbing isn't a large concern. Pipes are not likely to burst, especially when air temperatures are at or below freezing for a short period of time. However, in a soft freeze, it's a good idea to cover outdoor faucets and drain outdoor hoses. During a soft freeze, sensitive plants should be brought indoors or covered to prevent damage.

During a hard freeze, pets should be indoors, outdoor animals should have what's necessary to be outside, sensitive plants should be indoors or covered properly, and faucets should be dripping. This type of freeze can cause burst pipes if it occurs for an extended period of time, especially more than a few hours, or multiple nights in a row with minimal daytime heating. Plumbing in exterior walls has the highest risk of bursting first. It's recommended to check on family, friends, neighbors, and anyone sensitive to cold weather during a hard freeze.

The first hard freeze of fall means the fall pollen season is over. In Arkansas, this usually occurs around the beginning of November, on average.